L&T's fuel efficient Excavators, Compactors, Wheel Loaders

Larsen & Toubro, Arvind K Garg - Senior Vice President and Head - Construction & Mining Machinery Business

At Excon 23, L&T will display its indigenous Road Machinery, Vibratory Compactors, Wheel Loaders, Skid Steer Loaders, and Pneumatic Tyred Rollers. These machines are compatible with the soon-to-be-implemented CEV-5 engine emission norms. The spotlight will also be on our smart construction through virtual and augmented reality simulators, giving customers a tangible feel of our advanced machines in real-world conditions.

Komatsu and L&T Construction & Mining Machinery are delivering top-notch products using the latest technologies and based on an understanding of customer needs. Its advanced models include electric Hydraulic Excavators and biodiesel-fuelled equipment that adhere to global standards, emphasising safety and operator comfort. At Bauma Conexpo, held early this year, it displayed its 30-ton Hybrid Hydraulic Excavator with reduced fuel consumption. At Excon 23, it will present a 20-ton Hybrid model, new attachments for industries like car scrapping, and Hydraulic Excavators in the 8-ton and 13-ton class.

Bringing new technologies and sustainability in equipment

L&T, in collaboration with Komatsu, is at the frontier of cutting-edge technologies. Komatsu recently launched new generation of Excavators, embody innovation and eco-friendly operations. The machines come with specialised engines, advanced hydraulics, and the upgraded KOMTRAX system. They feature the ecot3 engine technology, which ensures efficient fuel consumption and maximum productivity. Their engines are optimised to maximise power output, ensuring every drop of fuel is used productively.

Komatsu's focus on efficiency is further evident in their hydraulic systems. The unique HydrauMind hydraulic system balances hydraulic and engine power, increasing fuel efficiency. The latest KOMTRAX version offers web-based monitoring of Komatsu equipment, ensuring optimal control and providing real-time insights into machine health and performance. This aids in identifying training needs for operators and technicians.

Technological prowess in precise engineering

Komatsu’s technological prowess shines through in the precise engineering of hydraulic components and hydraulic filters. Designed and manufactured specifically for each machine, these components ensure best-in-class performance with complete reliability and sustained durability. A superior hydraulic system coupled with a specially designed Hydraulic filter with nano fibre technology allows for an industry-leading oil change interval of 5,000 hours and a filter change interval of 2500 hours, further reducing maintenance costs.

Addressing specific operational challenges, Komatsu has developed customised undercarriages. These include a robust and rugged design with an Abrasive Impact-Resistant (AIR) Bushing tailored for tough underfoot conditions in applications such as stone quarry, granite, and marble. These innovations enhance durability and cost-efficiency.

Making products safer and more reliable to build end-user trust

We, at L&T Construction & Mining Machinery are leading in innovative and safe engineering design, and have established global partnerships that ensure our products meet international Quality, Safety, and Reliability benchmarks.

Our network of 30 dealers, 115 touchpoints, and 27 territory offices of L&T’s Domestic Marketing Network is strategically located to reach most project sites within two hours to cater to more than 35,000 construction equipment in the field.

A first in the industry, our comprehensive machine care programmes, Suraksha 10,000 and Viswas, enable continuous machine health monitoring and extended powertrain warranty, supported by a team of engineers equipped with digitally enabled service platforms to deliver on-time service to customers across the country to increase machine uptime.

With the implementation of Swift Service 360, we have further improved our after-sales support in India as this digital platform streamlines service delivery, improves response time, and offers consistent quality nationwide.

Training and upskilling equipment operators

We offer training programs, deliver knowledge, and oversee the training process. Our dealer network liaises with customers, operators, and mechanics, while the IESC certifies candidates after they clear tests under independent assessors.

In FY23, 1,229 candidates joined our training, with dealers coordinating 570 of these for equipment operators and mechanics. Our training and certification ensures industry standardisation and inclusivity by training women in machine operations, commissioning, and maintenance. We use the latest technology, including the latest simulators, virtual reality, and hands-on machine training. Our training programs help create a formally recognised workforce and in meeting the supply-demand gap for skilled personnel.

Optimizing equipment utilisation

Customers are looking for machines that offer higher productivity with maximum uptime so that machine utilisation is high, and they get maximum value from their investment. Hence, we make sure that our machines offer Quality, Reliability, and Durability through a strong after-market support network that helps customers derive the maximum from every piece of equipment.

We consistently optimise our equipment and present a suite of services that boost customer productivity. An extensive network of dealers throughout the country supports this network. Our Machine Care Programmes ensure that our machines are in good health always. In fact, the utilisation of Komatsu machines in India is an average of 3,000 hours, while it is 1,800 hours for other countries.

Real-time monitoring of machine performance and health

Komatsu's KOMTRAX system leverages GPS and GPRS technologies for real-time monitoring of machine performance and health, delivering instantaneous insights into machinery efficiency and maintenance requirements. L&T engineers harness these insights and energy-saving reports to enhance machine productivity and efficiency and ensure that our machines are used optimally through operator training, significantly reducing fuel consumption and improving operational effectiveness. One of the key features of KOMTRAX is that it detects abnormalities and cautions customers in time, thereby aiding preventative maintenance, leading to cost reduction and increased uptime.

The Komatsu Oil Wear Analysis Programme (KOWA) enables timely maintenance, ensuring high operational uptime, and reducing maintenance costs considerably. We monitor the key parameters of each machine to provide a clear health report. Based on this analysis, our L&T team suggests operational and maintenance steps to ensure optimal performance. Our after-sales support routinely includes Machine Care Programmes and Undercarriage Inspections.

Undertaking remanufacturing and refurbis-hment in line with circular economy principles

We have developed the expertise to repair and remanufacture to Komatsu’s standards major machine components. This has enabled us to offer a "Recon Exchange" scheme designed to increase machine uptime. With this program, customers can directly purchase major remanufactured components, eliminating the need to wait for repairs on their existing components at almost half the price and a warranty on key components. Our workshops maintain an inventory of key components, including engines, hydraulics, and powertrains.

Additionally, we provide a unique service where we purchase machines from our existing customers. After acquiring these machines, we refurbish them using genuine parts, adhering strictly to Komatsu's standards. Every refurbished machine comes with a warranty of either six months or 1,000 hours, depending on which comes first. These machines are then made available to customers at a reduced cost, backed by the assurance of both Komatsu and L&T.

India becoming a key market for various industries

Towards the end of 2022, India overtook the UK and France, becoming the third largest in Asia-Pacific and fifth globally. Given the pace of government reforms and the ongoing development, S&P Global Market Intelligence predicts India's GDP will reach $7.3 trillion by 2030. This growth positions India as a key market for various industries in the next decade, especially with its focus on infrastructure development. Rapid infrastructure development demands swift project execution, fuelling the need for advanced, eco-friendly construction and mining technologies that ensure quality and speed.